Typical oil industry executive BS. Any excuse to gouge the public and put the economy at risk to increase their share prices.

Here's the Valero CEO in May of this year:

Valero Energy said it expects more refining capacity to come offline because of weakening fuel demand, even after a number of refinery closures in the US and Europe in the past year.

High unemployment and higher vehicle fuel efficiency have tamped down on fuel sales on both sides of the Atlantic.

High oil prices and decreasing fuel demand caused a number of US refineries in the northeast to shut down, while Valero shut its refinery in Aruba and Hovensa, a joint venture between Hess Corp. and Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.(PDVSA), shut its refinery in the Virgin Islands.

"We believe there's still too much refining capacity in the US and western Europe," Valero CEO Bill Klesse said during a conference call with investors. "Some things die hard."

Oh and for Ohio winters, I love them. I usually just end up in Cleveland on the weekends for Rays MTB park. Always love to catch some lake effect snow. Both cars have snow tires too so I'm never too worried.

I'm sorry its OK for you to stereotype CA, but I cant stereotype the Midwest, right? I see. Again, I apologize

But see, I lived in Cali, and Chicago, and NYC, and rural Ohio ... stereotyping is fine, you just need to get your geographic orientation right. As I said, the hicks in Ohio live south of Columbus. What you needed to say was it keeps the "stench of your burning river" out of Cali.

Cheap gas, decent beer(local breweries) and lots of guns. Heck even some of the music is okay, I live in Austin so we got a lot of different music styles.
What could be better?

I'm bored with it. It's a six-hour drive to anything cool (beach, mountains, forest). Tired of no trees, no good parks and endless strip malls. Low cost of living is great, but I'm not feeling very self actualized out here.

I'm bored with it. It's a six-hour drive to anything cool (beach, mountains, forest). Tired of no trees no good parks and endless strip malls. Low cost of living is great, but I'm not feeling very self actualized out here.

Oh yeah, it is boring.
We have good parks and some trees out here in the hill country but the rest of the state is rather sad.
Texas is not a stopping point but a layover in life. Take advantage of the low cost of living and freedoms while you can then GTFO.

Typical oil industry executive BS. Any excuse to gouge the public and put the economy at risk to increase their share prices.

Here's the Valero CEO in May of this year:

Valero Energy said it expects more refining capacity to come offline because of weakening fuel demand, even after a number of refinery closures in the US and Europe in the past year.

High unemployment and higher vehicle fuel efficiency have tamped down on fuel sales on both sides of the Atlantic.

High oil prices and decreasing fuel demand caused a number of US refineries in the northeast to shut down, while Valero shut its refinery in Aruba and Hovensa, a joint venture between Hess Corp. and Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.(PDVSA), shut its refinery in the Virgin Islands.

"We believe there's still too much refining capacity in the US and western Europe," Valero CEO Bill Klesse said during a conference call with investors. "Some things die hard."

^^^ Very true indeed. The oil cartel is bitch-slapping the American consumers as usual.

I lived in northern CA for 2 years. Trust me, there are plenty of hillbillies, generally ass-backwards people, and locally-produced drink... and, for the record, snow. I also lived in MO for 29 years, so you can trust my opinion when it comes to all things redneck.